Brittany coastal path finally open after fight over John Kerry estate

A HIKING trail in northern France that passes through land owned by the family of John Kerry, the former US secretary of state, has been opened to the public after a bitter 37-year legal battle.

Applications to open the scenic path along Brittany’s beautiful Emerald Coast had been opposed by Mr Kerry’s cousin, Brice Lalonde, a former French environment minister who is also a champion of green causes.

Mr Lalonde, 73, was criticised for “hypocrisy” in seeking to keep the trail closed despite right-of-way laws allowing public access to coastal paths, but he insisted that his only concern was a potential “terrorist threat” to Mr Kerry.

However, there is deep local anger that thousands of walkers have been denied spectacular views because of a handful of rich proprietors who visit the area for only a few weeks each year.

Patrice Petitjean, the head of a hiking club, said: “People had been growing impatient. They were tearing down the barriers to get in.”

Mr Kerry, 75, who speaks fluent French, has often stayed at the Essarts estate, through which the trail passes. He is a scion of the Forbes family, which owns the land. Mr Lalonde served as mayor of Saint-briac-surmer, the local commune, for 13 years. His critics say this is partly why this dispute has taken so long to resolve, an accusation he denies.

He told Le Journal du Dimanche: “Two years ago, a man shouted ‘Allahu akbar’ on the beach.” In 2016, a man brandishing a replica Kalashnikov rifle caused panic on the beach and was convicted of “justifying terrorism”.

Mr Lalonde, who is not listed as an owner of the estate and was not directly involved in the latest legal battle, said on Twitter last year: “I never opposed the coastal path. I was only concerned about the security of the former American secretary of state.”

His concerns were mocked by users of the social network. Eric Ingrand said: “A former environment minister who does not respect the law on the coast … For the security of his cousin who spends what, no more than two weeks a year there?”

A number of wealthy landowners were involved in the battle. They employed a variety of arguments, including that the trail could weaken the cliff.

One family complained that the path passed beside their swimming pool. François Pinatel, their lawyer, said: “Hikers’ shoes will now pass only a few centimetres from the heads of people splashing in the water.”